Two 3PL quotes with the same pick fee can produce very different invoices. The difference is almost always in the fees that do not appear on the first page of the rate card. Use this checklist on every quote you receive.
- Receiving and put-away fees are the most common extra
- Portal, integration and account fees add a fixed monthly cost
- Carrier surcharges can add more than the pick fee
- Exit and inventory removal fees matter when you leave
Fees when inventory arrives
Receiving is often billed per pallet, per carton or per labor hour, with higher rates when cartons arrive mixed or unlabeled. Put-away can be billed separately on top.
- Receiving per pallet, carton or hour
- Put-away fees
- Charges for mixed or unlabeled cartons
- Container devanning fees
Fixed monthly fees
Some providers charge for the software portal per user, for each sales-channel integration, or a monthly account management retainer. Minimum monthly spend is the most important to spot: it turns a variable cost into a fixed one, which is what you outsourced to avoid.
- Per-seat portal or software fees
- Integration setup or monthly connector fees
- Account management retainers
- Minimum monthly spend
Shipping surcharges
Carrier surcharges for fuel, residential delivery and delivery areas can add a dollar or more to each parcel. Ask whether they are passed through, marked up or waived, and how dimensional weight is calculated.
On our published rates, fuel, residential and delivery-area surcharges are waived and shipping is the contracted carrier rate plus a 10% service margin, billed on actual or dimensional weight (DIM 166), whichever is greater. Peak-season and remote-area surcharges are quoted separately.
Fees when you leave
Ask what it costs to move your inventory out: removal fees per unit or pallet, final pick fees, and the notice period. These are easy to ignore when signing and expensive when switching.
How Fulfillment EZ prices
Every Fulfillment EZ quote is line-item: receiving, storage, picking, packaging and shipping, with no hidden integration, portal or account fees. Brands switching from another 3PL can send their current invoice for a counteroffer.